jrwilliams27
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Q: Internet stops working when using Time Machine

I have a mid-2012 MacBook Pro running Yosemite 10.10.1 that has started something that doesn't make any sense to me, and I hope someone here may have an answer. Here's what it is doing:

 

When I connect my external HDD for Time Machine to my MacBook Pro the internet stops working. By not working I mean, it is stays connected to the WIFI router with a full signal, but the internet, for lack of better words, ceases to function. I can't browse online, any app - like Mail - that uses the internet loses connection, and even background apps running on the top bar loses connectivity. If I run a Time Machine backup, eject the Time Machine external HDD, and pull the USB cable out of the MacBook it instantly goes back online and continues as normal.

 

I've checked settings, excluded Dropbox and OneDrive from being backed up in case they were conflicting in some way, and have searched for any answer anywhere I could think of. However, nothing seems to remedy this problem.

 

Here's what I'm running in case this helps:

 

Screenshot 2014-12-04 09.42.53.png

 

The external HDD I use for Time Machine is 750GB and is the same HDD that the MacBook Pro came with originally (I swapped HDD to a hybrid drive internally and put the original HDD into an external HDD enclosure which has been solid for me for over 2 years now).

 

Any help or ideas would be a greatly appreciated. Thanks!

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Dec 4, 2014 6:49 AM

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jrwilliams27

Q: Internet stops working when using Time Machine

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 4, 2014 11:03 AM in response to jrwilliams27
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Dec 4, 2014 11:03 AM in response to jrwilliams27

    USB 3 devices can interfere with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You may be able to mitigate the problem by using a USB cable with better shielding, or by switching from the 2.4 GHz wireless band to the 5 GHz band.

  • by jrwilliams27,

    jrwilliams27 jrwilliams27 Dec 4, 2014 11:09 AM in response to Linc Davis
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    Dec 4, 2014 11:09 AM in response to Linc Davis

    The router is 2.4, and the USB cable is 2.0. It worked flawlessly until Yosemite beta was installed...

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 4, 2014 11:13 AM in response to jrwilliams27
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
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    Dec 4, 2014 11:13 AM in response to jrwilliams27

    You don't say whether the enclosure is USB 3.

  • by jrwilliams27,

    jrwilliams27 jrwilliams27 Dec 4, 2014 11:15 AM in response to Linc Davis
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    Dec 4, 2014 11:15 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Sorry... The enclosure is not USB 3. I wanted to go that route when I swapped HDDs, but the enclosures weren't available at that time where we lived so I went USB 2.0...

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 4, 2014 11:32 AM in response to jrwilliams27
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Dec 4, 2014 11:32 AM in response to jrwilliams27

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.

    Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

    Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

    After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • by jrwilliams27,

    jrwilliams27 jrwilliams27 Dec 4, 2014 1:06 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2014 1:06 PM in response to Linc Davis

    After testing, I found that it does the exact same thing whether or not it is booted in Safe Mode. WIFI connected in both Safe Mode and normal boot-ups. As soon as I ejected the external HDD in BOTH Safe Mode and normal startup the Internet began working again. I plugged the HDD back in and the Internet ceased to work while maintaining the strong WIFI connection.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 4, 2014 1:16 PM in response to jrwilliams27
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Dec 4, 2014 1:16 PM in response to jrwilliams27

    Start up in Recovery mode. In the OS X Utilities screen, select Get Help Online. A clean copy of Safari will launch. No plugins, such as Flash, will be available. While in Recovery, you'll have no access to your saved bookmarks or passwords, so make a note of those before you begin, if they're needed for the test.

    Test. After testing, restart as usual and post the results.

  • by jrwilliams27,

    jrwilliams27 jrwilliams27 Dec 4, 2014 2:13 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2014 2:13 PM in response to Linc Davis

    This test has resulted in not being able to connect to WIFI at all while in Recovery mode. Even with the HDD disconnected it still wouldn't connect to the WIFI...

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 4, 2014 3:12 PM in response to jrwilliams27
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Dec 4, 2014 3:12 PM in response to jrwilliams27

    That's unusual. Did you enter the network password? Can you test on another network?

  • by jrwilliams27,

    jrwilliams27 jrwilliams27 Dec 9, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I've tried multiple attempts over the past few days, and I keep having the same issue testing in Recovery where it won't connect  to the WIFI router. A message box displays each time saying the network could not be joined, and asks for me to move closer to the router. Physically, I can't get much closer as it is only 6 inches away from the router. I've tried various spots in the house, and all with the same message. The same message appears for other routers that I've tried to connect to also....

  • by jrwilliams27,

    jrwilliams27 jrwilliams27 Dec 9, 2014 7:50 AM in response to jrwilliams27
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2014 7:50 AM in response to jrwilliams27

    I Forgot to mention that because  of the message it displays in the previous post, it never allows me to enter the password. I've tried joining the network manually, but it still won't connect.